Regulating means for compressors, blowers, or the like



R. H. COLLINGHAM REGULATING MEANS FOR COMPRESSORS, BLOWERS, OR THE LIKE Filed April '7, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FTgJ.

lflVehtorI P obevt H. Collin ham, by His 'Att ornsy.

. R. H. COLLINGHAM REGULATING MEANS FOR COMPRESSORS, BLOWERS, OR THE LIKE Filed April '7, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

i1 i5 *Attmrney R. H. COLLINGHAM RFGULATING MEANS FOR COMPRESSCRS, BLOWERS, OR THE LIKE Filed April 7, 1921 a Sheets-Sheet 5 lnventov'fi' Robert H. Clollh'wi'w...rn b t I Attovney Patented Aug. 28 1923.

UNITED STATES P'Ar NroFnc ROBERT E. COLLINGHAM, or RUGBY, ENGLAND, assrenoa r0 GENERAL ELEc'rmc COMPANY, A conrom'rrou on NEW YORK.

REGULATING MEANS FOR COMPRESSOBS, BLOWEBS, OR THE LIKE.

Application filed April 7, 1921. I Serial No. 459,892.

To all wizom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronnnr HUGH Con- LINGHAM, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residin at Rugby, in the county of VVarwickshire,

ngla-nd, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulatin Meansfor Compressors, Blowers, or the llke, of which the following is 8. specification.

The present invention relates to air or gas compressors, blowers, or the like, driven by turbines, reciprocating engines or other form of prime mover and delivering air to' receivers or reservoirs from whence it is drawn to supply air or gas consuming devices.

In such compressors, it is desirable that the power supplied for driving when no air or gas is being delivered should be reduced to a minimum. As no'air or gas may be required by consuming devices for a considerable period it would be .uneconomical to blow air or gas off to the atmosphere at a. pressure, merely to keep the turbo-compressor operating above the breakdown speed, or to hlowit. off through a safety valve at no load in the case of a reciprocating engine driven compressor.

The object of the present invention is to provide an nnproved'struoture and arrangement which operates automatically to reduce to a minimum the power required to operate a blower, compressor, or the like on no load, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is dirooted to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, which illustrates one form 0% apparat! s for carrying out my invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a part 01E the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, the figure being on a! smaller scale than Fig. 1, and showing certain additional parts; Fig. 3'is a sectional plan view taken on line 3-3 Fig. 1, also on a reduced scale; Fig. 4-is a view of the lower part of the apparatus showing a link and lover mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the complete apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Referring to the drawing, particularly Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 10 indicates the inlet to a compressor such as a. centrifugal conipressor for exam 1e. Surrounding the mouth ofinlet con nit 10 is a flange 11 to which is fastened a frame 12 by means of.

bolts 13 which passthrough flange 11 and an abutting flange 14 on frame 12. Between flange 11 and the nuts on bolts 13 are springs 15 whereby frame 12 is held in yielding engagement with the end of the inlet conduit 10. Extending longitudinally of frame 12 is a shaft 16 on which is fixed a valve 17 adapttends t'he length of frame 12 and is carried in suitable bearings 22 as shown in Fig. 2.

Formed integral with one of the arms 20 is a second arm 23 which ex'tends at a right angle to arm 20 and is connected at its outer end by a link 24 to a rod 25. Arms 20 and 23 form in substance a bell crank lever as best shown in Fig. 4. Hung on the lower end of rod 25 is a weight 26 and on the upper end of rod 25 is a piston 27 which movesjin a cylinder 28 provided with a lining member 29. The arrangement is such that when pisten 27 is in its upper position as shown in Fig. 1, that is, at the top of cylinder 28, valve 17 is closed, while when said piston is at'the lower end of cylinder 28 valve 1'? is open. Normally the lston is at the lower end of cylinder .28 so va ve 17 is open, weight 26 serving to bias-the parts to this position. Gylinder 28' is supported by a post 30 and fastened to the side of post 30 is a bracket 31 which carries a valve casing'32, the u per portion of which opens into a cylin er 33. In valve casing 32 is a valve 34 ada ted to move to opposite sides of a valve cl i amber 35. Connected to valve chamber 35-is a conduit 36 which leads to the lower end of cylinder 28. The opcnin through which conduit 36 connects wit cylinder 28 is indicated at 37 in Fig. 1

' r on the discharge side of the compressor.

' When valve 34 is in its lowered or down poing 32. Port 41 is above valve chamber 35 I 7 so when valve 34 is in raised position it shuts oil connection between conduit 36 and port 41 and connects conduit 36 to conduit'39. Valve 34 is provided with. a stem 42 which projects into cylinder and connects to a piston 43 located in cylinder On the upper end of piston 43 is a post 44 wh1ch supports an adjustable weight 45. In the present instance a portion of weight 45 is shown in the form of a number of discs 46 which can be laced over the upper end of post 44. The weight on post 44 can thus be adjusted. by removing or adding'discs 46. Piston 43 moving in cylinder 33 forms a dashpot to regulate the closing of valve 34, and also serves as a stop to limit the movements of such valve. 33 is a needle Valve for regulatmg the flow of air from piston 33. Fastened to the side of post 44 is-a' catch 47 with which a trigger 48 is adapted to engage to hold valve 34 in raised position. Trigger 48 is pivoted on a shaft 49 andis normally pressed to a position against post 44 by a spring 50, one end of which is attached to trigger 48 and the other of which rests on a web 51 formed integral with cylinder The outer end of web 51 is enlarged to form a cylinder 52 in which is located a piston or plunger 53. At 54 is an arm having a bifurcated end which straddles trigger 48 and is pivoted on shaft 49. The free end of arm 54 rests on the upper end of plunger 53. At an intermediatepoint arm 54 lies above and engages the outer end of trigger 48 and is adapted to move the trigger away froin po'st 44 against the action ofspring when the free end of ann 54 is moved downward. Connected to the outer or free end of arm 54 is a stirrup 55 on the lower and of which is hung an adjustable weight 56 which may boot the same general character as weight 45. By removing or adding discs 57 the weight may be adjusted.

As will be clear, weight 56 tends to pull the free or outer end of arm 54 downwardly so as to move tri ger .48 away from post 44 and when move downwardly plunger 53 will be moved downwardly in cylinder 52.

' The lower end of cylinder 52 is connected by of arm 54 is limited by an adjustable stop a pipe 58 to the receiver on thedischarge side of the compressor. Upward movement 59 carried by a ill-shaped strap 60.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is shown in a more or less diagrammatic manner in Fig. 5 as assembled in connection with a centrifugal compremor and receiver. In Fig. 5 the reference numerals to atmosphere used in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 are applied to corresponding parts. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, 61 indicates a centrifugal compressor having an inlet conduit 10 and a discharge conduit 62 which leads valve 17 will be fully open, piston 27 being at the bottom of cylinder 28 and held there by weight 26. Valve 34 will be held in its lowermost position by weight 45, conduit 36 being connected to atmosphere through port 41. Piston 43' will be at the bottom of cylinder 33. Trigger 48 will be held out of engagement-with post 44 by weight 56 acting on the outer end of arm 54, the receiver pressure being below the lower limit for which weight 56 is adjusted. I

If new the demand for air or gas cease the receiver pressure will immediately commence to rise. This pressure will be trans- .mitted through pipe 58 to plunger 53 and as soon as the pressure reaches a value above" will then act on the lower side of piston 27 to raise the same and through link 24', arms .23 and 20, links 19 and arms 18, close valve 17. The various parts now assume the positions shown in the figures of the drawing, trigger 48 being now under catch 47. With valve '17 closed the compressor runs in a partial vacuum. In the case of a centrifugal compressor or blower, this means that the prime mover has only to supply sufficient power to rotate the rotor against the rotation losses and thesaving of power unden these circumstances is very great as compared with a case where air or gas under pressure 18 blown oil to the atmosphere to maintain the set operating above the breakdown point.

If new a fresh demand is made on the receiver, the receiver pressure will commence to drop. Valve 34 and weight 45 cannot descend however due to trigger 48 being now in engagement with catch 47. When the pressure in the receiver drops to a point below the predetermined lower-limit set by weight 56, such weight pulling down on arm 54 will lower it against the action of the receiver pressure acting on plunger 53 thereby moving trigger 48 from engagement with conduit 36 is disconnected from pipe 39 and connected to port 41. This permits the ressure under piston 27 to escape to atmosp ere,

whereupon weight 26 will lower piston 27 and open valve 17. The compremor 61 will then operate in the normal manner with its inlet connected to atmosphere, and the parts are all in a position for a repetition of the cycle of operation just described in case the receiver pressure again rises.

It will thus be seen that valve 17 is automatically closed when a predetermined high receiver pressure is reached and it autos matically opens again when a predetermined lower receiver pressure is reached. Theupper and lower limits at which valve 17 is operated can be adjusted by adjusting weights and 56.

Owing to the method of connecting frame 12 to the face of the compressor inlet 10, this frame acts as a relief valve to prevent damage to the compressor in the event of the non-return valve (not shown) provided on the delivery side of the compressor, failing to act when inlet valve 17v is closed and the machine shut down. In such a case high pressure air would find its way into the low pressure casing in a centrifugal machine and possibly damage it. With the frame 12 yieldingly connected to inlet 10 as above described, with the rise of pressure on the side next the compressor, the frame would be blown off its seat against the compression of the springs 15 to relieve the pressure and thus prevent the pressure in the low pressure stages reaching a dangerous degree.

In accordance withthe provisions of the patent statutes, I-h 'described'the principle of operation-o" y invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be, carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination, a compressor having an inlet conduit-ands. discharge conduit, a valve in the inlet conduit, means for causing said valve to assume one of two posi tions when the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor reaches certain definite adjustable'hmits, and means for .adjusting said limits independently with respect to each other. v

2. In combination, a compressor having an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, :1.

valve in the inlet conduit, means for immediately closing said valve when the pressure on the dls charge' side of the compressor reaches a predetermined high value, and means for immediately opening it when the pressure reaches a predetermined low value, said means being independently adjustable with respect to each other whereby either of'said pressure values may be adjusted. without affecting the other.

3. In combination, a compressor having I an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a valve in the inlet conduit, a movable abutment subjected to the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor for closing said valve when the pressure reaches a predetermined high value, a catch for holding it closed, and means for releasing said catch when the pressure reaches a predetermined low value.

4. In combination, a compressor having an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a valve in the inlet conduit, means for closing said valve when the pressure on the dis-' charge side of the compressor reaches a predetermined high value, means for opening it when the pressure reaches a predetermined low value, and means for adjusting the pressures at which said opening and closing means operate comprising independently adjustable weights whereby an adjustment of one pressure value may be made without afi'ecting the other value.

5. In combination, a compressor having an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a casing, a valve in the casing, said casing being spring held against the'end of the inlet conduit, a movable abutment connected to said valve, means actuated by the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor for other whereby-the valve may be caused to 1 operate between certain pressure limits.

6. In combination, a' compressor having an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a

valve in the inlet conduit, a movable abut:

ment connected to said valve, a conduit for convey'in 1 fluid pressure to said abutment, and a va ve actuated by the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor for connectmg said conduitto a source of fluidpressure or to a region of lower pressure,

whereby when the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor reaches a i an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a

valve in the inlet conduit, a movable abutment connected to said valve, a conduit for conveying fluid pressure tosaid abutment, a valve actuated by the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor for connecting said conduit to a source of fluid pres sure, a catch for holding thefluid pressure actuated valve in open position, and means for releasin said catch.

8. In com ination, a compressor having an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a valve casing held in engagement with and forming the outer end of the inlet conduit, said valve casing being releasable therefrom automatically in the event of back pressure tending to convert the inlet conduit into'a discharge conduit, a valve in said casing, meansinterposed between said valve and the discharge conduit to cause said valve to assume a closed position when a predetermined high ressure is reached in the discharge conduit and to cause said .valve to assume an open position when the predetermined low pressure is reached in the discharge conduit, saidhigh and low pressure limits being independently adjustable with redeter-- respect to each other through the medium of sectional adjustable weights. I 9. In combination, a compressor having an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a normally open valve in the inlet conduit, means for closing said valve when the pressure on'the discharge sideof said compressor reaches a predetermined high value, latch releasable 'means for holding it closed until said pressure reaches a predetermined low value, and means for releasing said holding means and opening the valve when the pressure reaches such predetermined low value. 7

10. In combination, a compressor having an inlet conduit and a discharge conduit, a valve in the inlet conduit biased toward open position, a movable abutment connected to the valve, a conduit for supplying pressure to the abutment to cause it to close the valve against the biasing force, and means for connecting said last named conduit to a. source of ressure or to a region of lower pressure, said means being actuated by the pressure on the" delivery side of the compressor.

In witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of March,

' n. n. CULLINGHAM.

Witnesses:

N. Eoronsn WALLIN, J. A. ltosrnn, 

